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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0989.025 2018-2020 lPU HTC, ill (°7 )AI Kona Commons 74-5444 Makala Blvd. ailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 July 6,2020 j COUNTY CLERK Hawaii County Council, Susan Lee Loy COUNTY OF HAWAIII 25 Aupuni Street RECEIVED Hilo,HI 96720 Time 9'15am Re: Bill 179 Date I Dear Chair Lee Loy and the Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit, 3 I MK Kona Commons,LLC. is in support of Bill 179 as a next step in working toward accountability,predictability, and efficiency in the Hawaii County permitting system. Kona Commons has been working and continues to work through many delays in the current permitting process that has cost tenants and landlords substantial time and money with delays in plan reviews and code changes during the process. This has also hindered our center to allow for current tenants to move forward with substantial renovations in a timely manner,and in attracting and bringing new business to the center. Our aim is to attract businesses that can assist in the development of a strong economic future for our entire island community. The current process is a challenge to navigate.A clear and concise roadmap or checklist of the process is vital to allowing new submissions to flow thru with ease. By allowing for a one permit system,the delays caused by submission for multiple layers in permitting will be eliminated and save both the county and applicant time and money caused by multiple reviews by different reviewers of the same project. To include a separate track for residential and commercial reviews to be established,reviewers would be able to focus in on the codes that are essential to that category and move through the process more efficiently. It would also assist within the commercial review,that new build and tenant improvement projects be handled separately. Inconsistencies from reviewers and inspectors have created sizable delays in projects. Protocols should be established and adhered to prevent different interpretations of the same code and cut down on the time for re- review and or corrections both in the process and in the field. These comments were among others included in a notice sent by the Kona Kohala Chamber of Commerce on June 5,2020 as requested by the Public Works Building Division regarding proposed amendments to the County Building Administrative Code. support Bill 179 as the next step in working toward accountability,predictability,and efficiency in the Hawaii County Permitting System. Sincerelv, Nancy Sakamoto ( General Manager MMI Realty Services,Inc. 74-5444 Makala Blvd. I Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 Comm. e. Ref.To: QG Ref. Date